Whether it's a conversation with a friend, a word that is penned, or a craft that is made, everything we do leaves a stitch in the fabric of time. Join us as we investigate the stitches of the past and present...

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ... a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7).

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Easter Basket Tradition

Not all Easter baskets are large, candy-and- toy-stuffed, cellophane
wrapped surprises for children to tear into on Easter morning. Nor must they
always be used to collect eggs in an Easter egg hunt.

I love making Easter baskets—small, exquisite works of art.
Crochet is my go-to craft, but I’ve also made baskets of starched and glued
strips of paper and cloth, woven twigs like a bird’s nest. Even macramé.
Remember that? But whether big surprises for children on Easter morning or small
decorative things, all must be stuffed with plastic grass and contain colored
hen or candy eggs along with hidden treats and treasures.

But where did the Easter basket come from? According to Wikipedia,
it came out of both religious and pagan customs. The modern Easter basket grew
out of the Lenten custom of breaking the forty-six day fast with a large feast.
Families would bring items for the feast in a large basket. These baskets were
blessed by the clergy, probably in keeping with the rites of ancient Hebrews
who brought their first seedlings to the temple to be blessed.

The Germans are credited with the story of the Easter Bunny
carrying a basket of eggs. When they immigrated to the United States they
brought the tradition with them.

Dutch tradition also influenced the practice of children
carrying egg filled baskets. Dutch children first carried their eggs in bird’s
nests on Easter morning. In time, someone noticed it would be easier to carry
the eggs in a grass lined basket with a handle.

One of the modern customs I like is sending baskets to
relatives or friends as a remembrance of the day. I’ve also heard of a fun way
to celebrate that’s a type of reverse to trick-or-treating. Children take candy
filled baskets and hang them on the door knobs of neighbors. They ring the doorbell
and run. This is also reminiscent of the May basket where sweethearts leave a
basket at the door of their love interests. A message of affection is hidden among
the flowers.

My favorite way to use the Easter basket was through my
church’s secret friend program. We would leave the baskets on the friends’
cars so they would find them after Easter services. Under the jelly beans, hidden in the
grass were wrapped chocolates or trinkets along with a Scripture verse having
some special meaning for that friend.

The eggs carried in the Easter basket are a symbol of life,
but those verses reminded us there is no better symbol of life than a risen
Savior.

What is your favorite Easter tradition?

Leave a comment with your email address any day this week for a chance to win Easter Egg Hotpads crocheted by Crystal Barnes.

Our family is leaning away from "traditional" Easter celebrations (eggs, baskets, etc.). Without a doubt, though, my favorite tradition has always been buying a new dress. It sounds silly and girly, and it really isn't very characteristic of me (I often wear jeans to church), but I love being all dressed up when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ :)

As a child, I remember getting a frilly-frilly dress for Easter, complete, sometimes, with a hat and gloves. Scouring the house for eggs, candy and little gifts.

As a teenager, I enjoyed getting up and participating in the Sunrise Service, having breakfast, taking communion, worshiping and then Sunday School. (We, also, still looked for eggs.--Dad was the biggest kid of all)

Now, as an adult, I relish the joy of the Resurrection. I still find comfort in the SONrise Service, breakfast and worship, but I am filled with the awe of the resurrection, each Easter, and gratitude for his sacrifice.

I'm with Patricia. I would not be able to crochet an Easter basket. Simply lovely, cp. Easter is a great time of year, and Iook forward to being renewed by the reaffirmation of the resurrection. Great post, cp!

Thanks for the wonderful post. Very informative. Our Easter tradition is to hide 100 plastic eggs, all filled with coins. The kids get up in the morning, check out what the Easter Bunny brought, then look for the eggs. It's a lot of work, but the kids love it. I don't spoil my kids with buying them much throughout the year, so I go all out for those times "someone else" can get them things they've been wanting - Easter, Christmas, and birthdays.

Thanks for coming by, Kym. I put both candy and coins in the plastic eggs and the excitement for the kids was finding the most money. These are fun traditions your children will remember all their lives.

What beautiful, intricate stitches! I'm ashamed I haven't picked up crochet in a while. Love seeing your projects, though! Thanks for sharing how these traditions got started! We don't really have many Easter traditions besides the occasional sunrise service, but those were never my favorite as a kid, lol. I love reading the favorite traditions of others, though!

Know what I remember about sunrise service as a child? Mosquitos. I couldn't understand why we couldn't watch the sun rise through the stained glass windows inside.Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Natalie.

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